Kia EV6 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5
Kia EV6 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5
Kia EV6 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5
Kia EV6 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 : What we have here is the all-new Ioniq 5, which is the first fully dedicated electric vehicle from Hyundai. And it's currently our favorite in the luxury electric SUV class. Right next to it is the Kia EV6, which is also new and shares a lot in common with the Ioniq 5. Despite their similarities, there are some key differences between the two.
Style & Price:
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| Hyundai Ioniq 5 |
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| Hyundai Ioniq 5 |
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| Kia EV6 |
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| Kia EV6 |
The most obvious difference between the Ioniq 5 and EV6 is styling. The Hyundai goes with a delightfully funky aesthetic with a distinct 8-bit pixelated motif, while the EV6 adopts a sleek and curvaceous shape.
As different as they may be, I'm personally a fan of both executions, but I wonder if the novelty of Hyundai's styling will stand the test of time. In terms of price these two EVs are almost in lockstep.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts around $41,000 for the entry level SE Standard Range model. That should be arriving this spring. It has a single 168-horsepower electric motor that drives the rear wheels and an estimated range of 220 miles. The lightweight Kia EV6 trim starts at around $ 42,000 and has an estimated mileage of 167 horsepower and 232 miles. There are some mid-grade rear drive models that increase output to 225 horsepower and range past 300 miles too.
Specs:
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| engine kia ev6 |
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| engine ioniq 5 |
What we have here, however, are the top trims in both lineups. These have bigger batteries and two motors to deliver all-wheel drive. This Ioniq 5 Limited has an as-tested price of almost $56,000, while the EV6 has a sticker of $58,000. Both have a power output of 320 horsepower, but the Kia EV6 gains a slight range advantage of 274 miles compared to the Ioniq's 256-mile range estimate. In our Edmunds real-world range test, however, we managed to squeeze 270 miles out of the Ioniq 5.
Now, all in all, these differences are fairly minor. So let's hit the road and get into the really big ones.
Driving Impressions:
Starting with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, acceleration is immediate, which is typical of pretty much any electric vehicle today. At the carszap test track, it accelerated from 0 to 60 miles an hour in only 4.7 seconds. Now, that's barely quicker than the Tesla Model Y Long Range and quite a bit quicker than a comparable Ford Mustang Mach-E, so there's no doubt that this is plenty quick for most drivers. Here on the steering wheel are some paddles that control the amount of brake regeneration.
Now, that's how much the car slows when you take your foot off of the accelerator and how much of that momentum can be used to recharge the batteries. In this lightest setting, it pretty much free wheels like a bicycle with very little deceleration. Now, I prefer the most aggressive i-pedal setting, which allows for one-pedal driving. Not only does it extend the cruising range, but it reduces some of the fatigue you might I feel in traffic because I don't have to dance often between the accelerator and brake pedals. The ride quality is pleasantly soft in the Ioniq, which means a lot of the bumps in the road are barely felt.
Now, on a winding road like this, however, it does create a little bit more body roll. But it still takes the curves with more athleticism than most drivers will ever need. Now, some of these mid-corner bumps do cause some inelegant jostling, but that shouldn't be too much of a big deal for most drivers. Now, here in the EV6, the firmer ride quality is noticeable when you compare it back to back.
I intentionally used the word firm instead of stiff since the bumps in the road are still kept from being harsh, but you are certainly going to feel more of them. I personally like the suspension tuning in the EV6, but I tend to favor sportier handling, and that's where the EV6 shines. It's surprisingly fun to drive on a twisty road like this.
And the all-wheel-drive front wheels do a great job of getting you out behind corners.. And rear-drive models are even more fun because you can push the rear a little further. Now, that requires a little more skill and care to do safely, but when done right, it is really quite fun.
And by the way, this EV6 hit 60 miles an hour in the exact same 4.7 seconds that the Ioniq 5 took. That means if you're looking for a bit more fun and confident handling, the Kia EV6 is the clear choice. However, if you're looking for the softest, cushiest ride, the Ioniq 5 is your best bet. Of course, driving is just part of the experience. So let's pull over and compare the interiors.
Interiors:
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| interiors Kia EV6 |
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| interiors Ioniq 6 |
Even though both of these electric SUVs are on the small side, they provide plenty of space on the inside. Up front, I have plenty of space, but I do wish the steering wheel would telescope just a little further out from the dash. As it is, I feel like I have to scoot the seat just a little bit further forward than I prefer.
But that's also the same with the EV6. In the Hyundai, the gear selector is right here at the 4 o'clock position, and you just kind of flick it forward or backwards for drive or reverse. It's intuitive from the get-go, and it frees up a lot of space on the center console too. This center console has a ton of space for storage. You have this shallow bin here and this huge tray underneath, but I'm not sold on some of the design decisions. Now, there is a wireless charging pad that's kind of deep in there, and this console slides backwards and forwards, though I'm not sure why that's helpful.
Now, the problem I have is the USB charger ports are right here, but the one for the data, to use things like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, are here underneath the center pile. That means that your cable has to run from there across the gap into this cup holder or into the charging pad. Also, that floor in the gap is flat, so you've got to be careful with water bottles just in case one rolls underneath the pedals. I like how there are these physical shortcut buttons that kind of help you get to some of the more commonly used functions. But I do wish that there were separate buttons just for seat heating and ventilation because you kind of have to dig through some of the menus to get to the seat controls here.
And with the volume control, it takes a few seconds longer and fades out whatever you're listening to. over Here in the EV6, the center console is fixed and holds the gear selector dial. Now, personally, I prefer the selector stalk in the Hyundai because this dial isn't quite as intuitive, and it It takes up so little space that it could be better used for center console storage. Now I like the wireless charging pad here. It's big enough to accept an iPhone that's Max-sized with one of those thick bumper cases as well.
On top of that, this lid here helps keep the phone in place. Instead of Hyundai's physical buttons, Kia went with a rather novel dual-purpose capacitive touch panel here. Touching that little button here toggles between audio and navigation to control the climate. Now, you still need to take your eyes off the road to use it, but it's pretty good at cleaning up the surfaces here and reducing the amount of buttons that you have.
You have another set of buttons below to ventilate and heat the seats, but you have to be careful because it can be easy to accidentally touch them and activate some seat heaters. Ask me how do I know. The Ioniq 5 and EV6 both have their pros and cons, but fortunately many of these drawbacks are just small gadgets that don't spoil the overall experience. Both offer plenty of room in the back seat for adults, too. I'm six foot eight and sit comfortably back in the driver's seat, which is good enough for such a small SUV.
Cargo:
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| Cargo EV6 |
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| Cargo ioniq 5 |
Tech & Charging:
Like most cars for sale today, the Ioniq 5 and EV6 are packed with tech features. All the typical advanced security features are available and they all work great with no false alarms. I will say that the lane keep assist in the EV6 is a little heavy-handed, as it takes a little bit too much effort to break it free from the computer.
I'm also not a fan of the blind spot camera systems that project an image off the side view going backwards. For me, I think it's more of a distraction, especially at night. In addition, the steering wheel blocks the most important parts that you need to see. Load time is probably more important to buyers. Both are capable of direct current fast charging up to 350 kW. That means you can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes.
Well, it's very fast. However, in our experience these fees are extremely rare. Do not always work with capacitance. Hyundai sweetens the deal by offering up to 30 minutes of recharge time for the first two years of ownership. Both Hyundai and Kia offer external power inverters, which you can use to connect accessories and electronics or assist drivers of other electric vehicles. When charging other cars, the charging speed is very slow.
Now, finally, when it comes to the infotainment systems, they are pretty much the same. They are easy to use, very responsive and practically have no complaints.
Conclusion:
As similar as the specs, performance, and range are between the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in Kia EV6, deciding between the two comes down to personal preference. Now you can see how the funky design of the Ioniq 5 will attract buyers. Personally, I think it's the coolest design Hyundai has ever released. But the Kia EV6 got my vote. Ioniq 5 may be affordable in terms of charging, price and.